Conveyer mechanism for disks and the like



Sept. 18, 1951 E. R. KOPPEL ET AL 2,568,073

CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR DISKS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29, 1948 4Sheets-Sheet 1 l rmififra ez and U/nBruc'e Caldwell Sept. 18, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29

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Sept. 18, 1951 E. R. KOPPEL ET AL CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR DISKS AND THELIKE Filed Dec. 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 2vvflux 7 2 7/ 27/2/47557/47/42,////////v// 74M v p61 and uce Caldwell fnueniors: 77255 1? KopSept H8, 1951 E. R. KOPPEL ETAL CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR DISKS AND THELIKE 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

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[nus TLZO 7"5 l rns'f R Koppel and Patented Sept. 18, 1951 CONVEYERMECHANISM FOR DISKS AND THE LIKE Ernst R. Koppel and Walter BruceCaldwell, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 29, 1948, SerialNo. 67,945

7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to draw furnaces for treatingsheet metal articles, such as agricultural discs, and it has particularreference to novel mechanism for supporting and conveying the discsthrough furnace structure, such mechanism includingv a feed tablecooperating with parts of a chain or link conveyor.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to simplify theconstruction of a conveyor and feed table arrangement for draw furnacesand the like, such as contemplated herein, and to increase the capacityof the furnace and thus improve the efficiency and operation of sucharrangement.

A primary object of the present invention resides in providing anassembly, including a table or rack which delivers agricultural discsfiatwise to a novel conveyor mechanism upon which the discs are up-endedso that they will pass through the furnace in approximatel vertical orup standing positions. It is apparent that this particular arrangementof the discs during transit in the furnace very materially reduces theoverall length of a furnace, thus permitting considerable economy ofspace in the plant producing such discs. Alternatively, the arrangementcontemplated herein, when installed in a furnace of given dimensions,will materially increase the capacity of such furnace. The presentstructure effects an increase of output from the furnace, and it alsopermits better circulation of heat between and around the discs.

Another principal object resides in the provision of a conveyormechanism wherein the several parts are arranged in a manne so thatthedisc s may be effectively and readily picked up from the feed tableand then conveyed through the furnace, and to do this without risk ofdamaging such discs.

Another principal object hereof is the provision of a novel deliverytable which is closely coordinated with the disc conveyor mechanism sothat parts of such table and the pick-up members of the conveyoralternate with each other during the movement of the conveyor memberspast the table. In this connection, the table has a hinged rack portionor leaf which projects, into the furnace to be close to the receivingend of the conveyor, such hinged rack or leaf portion being adapted,under certain conditions, to be lifted a suitable distance b the pick-upmembers of the conveyor to prevent damage to the table and the conveyorin the event of accidental misalignment of these respective parts.

Another principal object hereof is to provide means in the form of achain carrier or drive assembly which is efiective to maintain the discsin definite positions during the time such discs are traveling throughthe furnace.

Still another principal object resides in the provision of novel meansin a chain carrier assembly for preventing the discs from becominginadvertently dislodged and falling onto the chains.

A further principal object hereof resides in the provision of a conveyorhaving upwardly extending arm members which are closely assembled withrespect to each other in successive rows thereby to maintain the discsin generally upright positions as distinguished from conveying the discsfiat on the chains.

It is also aimed in the present invention to provide the novel chaincarrier or articulated conveyor wherein each disc supporting assemblyhas leading and trailing finger-like members arranged so that theleading members of one chain link assembly are alternately disposed withrespect to the trailing members of the preceding link assembly; and viceversa, the trailing fingers of said one link assembly operate betweenthe leading finger members of the succeeding link assembly. It isapparent that, by reason of this novel arrangement wherein thefinger-like members of one assembly are interposed between with those ofboth preceding and succeeding assem" blies, said fingers are effectiveto provide a very definite and dependable supporting structure which isadapted to maintain the discs in the desired positions on their edgesand at the same time preventing such discs falling through the supportsto the chains.

Additional objects, aims and advantages of the improvements contemplatedherein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after theconstruction and operation of the conveyor and feed table assembly isunderstood from the within description. It is preferred to accomplishthe numerous objects of this invention, and to practice the same, insubstantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

For a detailed understanding of the improvements, reference is now madeto the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of a draw furnace, a portionthereof being in broken away section to show the application of thepresent improvements thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical side elevation showing a fragmentary portion of themechanism adjacent the receiving end of the furnace;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the plane of line 3-3 on the arrangementshown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken along the plane of line4-4 of Fig. 1, and drawn to a larger scale to illustrate details of thetrackage and disc-supporting conveyor mechanism;

Fig. is a horizontal section taken along the plane of line 5--5 of Fig.2, and drawn to a larger scale to illustrate novel details of thepresent chain carrier arrangement; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed View looking at a side of a chaincarrierarrangement shown in Fig. 5.

The drawings are to be understood as bein more or less of a diagrammaticcharacter for the purpose of disclosing a typical or preferred form orembodiment of the improvements contemplated herein, and in thesedrawings like reference characters are used to identify the same partsin the different views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen the furnace A has an interiorheating chamber B of elongate form, and may be of any suitable orwell-known type. At the receiving end of the furnace there is aninclined delivery table or chute of novel construction which has anoverhanging portion projecting into th chamber through the feed openinga at the adjacent end of the furnace. Within the heating chamber thereare suitable chain carrier assemblies which define a novel conveyormeans D for supporting the discs E in a manner so that they stand upontheir edges and lean against up-standing portions of the conveyor duringtravel through the furnace chamber to the discharge opening 12 wheresuch discs are preferably deposited flat upon the apron assembly F,which in turn transfers the discs to the next station of a suitableprocessing line.

The chute or delivery table C, which cooperates with the chain conveyorassembly D, comprises angle metal supporting legs I0, those nearest thefurnace being shorter than the others, and, the upper ends of said legsare connected by slanting side rails II and by cross-members or tiebarsI2. As shown in Fig. 3, there are pairs of spaced metal strips mountedup-right with their longitudinal edges resting upon the tie-bars ormembers I2 to provide pairs of parallel ribs I3 which support a sheetmetal plate I l for defining the table top upon which the discs aredeposited fiatwise by the feed conveyor assembly G. Interposed betweeneach pair of ribs I3 there is an elongate bar I5 which projects beyondthe ends of said ribs and through the feed opening a. into the furnacechamber B where such bars have stop members I6 at their ends. These barsdefine a skeleton rack onto which the discs slide from the top plate I4and enter the furnace.

By reason of the particular arrangement of these bars [5, they provideextensions of the pairs of ribs I3, and their end regions, which arebeneath the top plate I4 and remote to the furnace, overlap the adjacentportions of ribs I3. A pivot rod or fulcrum member I! passes throughthese overlapped portions of the ribs and the bars beyond the adjacentedge of the top plate I4. This pivot member I! is securely attached tothe bars I5 and it also passes loosely through the ribs I3. It will beseen, by reference to Fig. v3, that the major portions of the bars I5overhang and project beyond the adjacent tie piece I2 and the loweredges of the bars rest upon this tie piece. The arrangement of the barsand their pivotal mounting provides a hinged leaf or rack which projectsinto the furnace between the disc positioning portions of the conveyor.The discs which slide fiat on the top plate Is also slide along the rackuntil they reach the stops I6 where they are so positioned that they maysuecessively be picked up by positioning portions of the conveyorassembly D while such portions are.

4 passing upward through and past the rack. The purpose of this hingedleaf or rack arrangement is to prevent damage to either the conveyor orthe rack as will later be explained.

The longitudinal side walls of furnace A support a plurality ofhorizontal cross beams I8 on the tops of which there are mounted severalpairs of facing angle metal guides or tracks I9 that are suitablysecured to said beams; preferably by welding, and there are pairs ofvertical angle metal hangers which are secured to the cross beams I8 andalso to the upstanding flanges of the tracks I9. There are also lowerangle metal guides or tracks 2I which are welded to the flanges ofhangers 20 adjacent the lower ends of the latter to provide supportingmeans for the return run of the endless conveyor assembly D whichcarries the discs through the furnace to the discharge opening bthereof.

The conveyor assembly D is preferably of the roller carrier chain typewhich is driven through the heating chamber B by rotatable drivingsprockets 22 secured to horizontal Shafts 23 at the ends of the conveyorruns. It will be seen that there is a roller carrier chain for each pairof facing angle metal tracks I9, all of which carrier chains are ofsubstantially identical construction. For the purpose of convenience,only one chain arrangement such as shown in detail pintles 26 and 21between links 24 and 25. The

outer links 3|] and 3| have their end portions overlapping adjacent endregions of the inner links '24 and 25 respectively, and said outer links30 and 3| are also hingedly mounted on the pintles 26 and 21 forswinging movement. Thus an articulated conveyor or carrier chainarrangement is effected. The end regions of the pintles project beyondthe outer links 30 and SI and carry anti-friction rollers or wheels 32that are retained in place on the pintles by means of washers 33 andcotter'pins 34. As seen in Fig. 4, these rollers or wheels 32 travel onthe horizontal flanges of the pairs of angle metal tracks I9 and 2I, andthe ends of the pintles 21 are sufficiently close to the verticalflanges of the tracks to permit only limited sidewise movement orlateral shift of the chains while they are traveling through the furnaceon said tracks. Also, the sprockets 22 are provided with arcuate notchesor recesses 22a to receive the roller collars 28 while the chains areengaged with said sprockets.

The links 25 and 3| each have upstanding ears or vertical lug portions25a and Ma. respectively, such ears or lugs being transversely bored atspaced locations to receive bolts 35 and 36 for anchoring suitablemounting blocks 31 thereon. As seen in Fig. 5, the outer links 3| havespacers 38 surrounding the shanks of bolts 36, such spacers beinginterposed between said links 3i and the adjacent blocks 31 for thepurpose of aligning said latter blocks with the similar blocks 31 on theinner links 25.

The upper portion of each block 31 has an arcuate recess 39 therein,such recess being of substantially semi-circular shape to provide asaddle for receiving the adjacent-segmental surface of an elongate tubeor circular rod which is seated in the saddle and is securely attachedthereto by welding or the like. Also secured to the tubeor rod 40 is arow of fingers 4! having rectangular cross section, one end edge of eachfinger being of concave form the curvature of which corresponds with thecurvature of the outer surface of rod fill to provide a good fit betweensaid end edges and said rod. These fingers may be welded or otherwisesecured to the rod 40 so that they all project therefrom inapproximately a horizontal plane parallel with the carrier chains and intrailing relation to the rod.

A row of elongate arms 42 are inserted diametrically through the rod 49at about the locations of fingers 4i, and these arms are welded to saidrod so that the axes of said arms are inclined forwardly of a planeperpendicular to the plane of the chain conveyor D. It will be seenthese arms 42 incline in a generally forward direction toward thedischarge end of the furnace. Adjacent the rod 40 the arms 42 have a rowof bifurcated fingers 43 secured to them,

said fingers 43 being defined by a suitable metal w strip that is bentU-shape intermediate its ends, as seen in Fig. 5, so as to providebifurcations which are spaced apart a distance equal to the diameters ofthe arms 42. The bifurcated fingers 43 project in a leading direction,and they may be arranged at approximately right angles to the arms 42 sothat they incline downwardly or obliquely toward the chains. As seen inthe plan view (Fig. 5), the bifurcated leading fingers 43 are positionedso that they overlap with the trailing fingers 4| on the next precedingrod 40. This arrangement of a trailing finger 4| with respect to thenext leading bifurcated finger '43, is such that the fingers 4| and 43bridge the spaces between the rows of arms 42 and define supportingmeans for the upstanding discs while moving through the furnace.

The forwardly inclined arms 42 are spaced on the respective rods 40suitable distances apart so that when these arms pass between the rackbars l5 of the table and under normal conditions of operation there isno contact between arms 42 and bars [5 as shown in Fig. 3. However, inthe event of any distortion or misalignment of the arms 42 or rack barsl5, said arms are adapted to-lift the bars to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 2 during the removal of the disc without causingany damage to the table assembly.

When each disc is lifted from the table, such disc will lie flat on arms42 and its lower edge will be resting upon the leading fingers 43 at vthe juncture of said fingers and the arms as shown in the central regionof Fig. 2. This is while the chain conveyor is passing over the sprocket22 at the receiving end of the furnace. When the arms 42 are approachinga vertical position, the discs will tilt by gravity in a forwardlydirection so that their convex surfaces will engage the arms 42 in theproceeding assembly in the manner shown at the right hand end of Fig. 2.During this stage of operation, the fingers 4| and thebifurcated'fingers 43 will have moved into the desired relation withrespect to each other, and thus effect a substantial support for thediscs and provide means which prevents the discs while in transitbecoming entangled with or damaging the parts of the chain conveyor.

When the discs arrive at the discharge end of the furnace, the chainconveyor D will begin a downward travel on the adjacent sprocket 22(Fig. 1), causing the arms 42 to sweep downward and as said armsapproach a horizontal position the discs will assume a position on thearms wherein they rest wholly upon their convex surfaces. After the arms42 have moved below a horizontal plane, they will assume a downwardlyinclined position so that the discs will slide off .said arms onto therunout conveyor assembly F to be withdrawn from the furnace through thedischarge opening b.

After the construction and operation of the above-described improvementsare understood, it will be appreciated that considerable importance isattributed to the novel arrangement of the carrier chain conveyor whichis constructed in a manner so that circular shaped discs are movedthrough the furnace while standing on their edges. Also the fingers ineach row are .spaced far enough from each other so that the lowermostsegment of a disc will rest on two fingers with the intermediate portionin the space between said two fingers. This prevents the disc rollingedgewise on the conveyor during travel in the furnace chamber. Thus aconsiderably larger number of discs will be passed through a furnacechamber of a given size than in arrangements where the discs areconveyed while lying flat on one of their faces. In addition, this novelarrangement permits the hot gasses to pass between the discs and comeinto direct contact with both surfaces thereof. Another importantfeature resides in the arrangement whereby the discs may be picked up bythe conveyor assembly from the table within the furnace without risk ofdamage to the conveyor arms. or to the table. This is due to the factthat the table leaf or rack, which projects into the furnace chamber inclose association with the conveyor arms, is of a hinged character sothat rack will be bodily lifted in the manner described in the event anarm of the conveyor or a bar of the rack becomes accidentally displacedin a lateral direction.

While this invention has been described in detail in its presentpreferred form or embodiment, it will be apparent to persons skilled inthe art, after understanding the improvements,

that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope thereof. It is aimed in the appendedclaims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed is: 1. A mechanism for conveying disc-like blanks ontheir edges through a draw furnace and the like comprising, a pluralityof tracks extending through said furnace; chain carriers adapted totraverse said tracks; blocks secured to the links of said chains;recessed seats in the upper edges of said blocks; horizontalcross-members an- "chored in said seats and arranged transverse to saidchain carriers; rows of elongate upstanding arms supported by saidcross-members, said arms being inclined in the direction of travel ofsaid chain carriers; bifurcated members on the portions of said armswhich are adjacent said crossmembers, said members projecting in aleading direction with respect to said chain carriers; and fingers onsaid crossmem'bcrs alined horizontally with said bifurcated members andprojecting in a trailing direction with respect to said chain carriers,each of said fingers being adapted during the travel of said chaincarriers '7 to be positioned in the bifurcations of the next trailingmember thereby to provide'support for the blanks standing between therows of arms.

2. A mechanism for conveying disc-like blanks on their edges through adraw furnace and the like comprising, a plurality of tracks extendingthrough said furnace; chain carriers adapted to traverse said tracks;horizontal cross-members connected rigidly to and supported by chaincarriers, said cross-members being arranged transverse to the directionof travel of said chain carriers; and a plurality of generally T-shapearticle-supporting structures mounted on each cross-member at thejunctures defined by the stems and the lateral arms of the Ts, saidstructures comprising rows of elongate upstanding arms supported by saidcross-members; pairs of spaced members projecting from said arms in onedirection from said cross-members; fingers alined horizontally withadjacent pairs of spaced members and projecting in another directiontherefrom, each of said fingers normally lying between a pair of spacedmembers in intimate association therewith, said fingers and spacedmembers together providing substantial surface areas of support forblanks standing between said rows of arms.

3. A conveyor mechanism for moving disc-like blanks on their edgescomprising, longitudinally extending chain carriers; spaced horizontalcross-members secured to and connecting said chain carriers, saidcross-members and said chain carriers defining an articulated conveyor;and devices formaintaining the disc-like blanks on their edges on saidconveyor comprising, a plurality of inverted generally T-shapearticlesupporting structuresmounted on each of said cross-members at thejunctions defined by the intersections of the stems and the cross-piecesof the Ts, said inverted T-shape structures on each cross-member beingcharacterized by a row of upstanding rods, a row of horizontally. spacedarms arranged in pairs extending longitudinally of the conveyor from oneside of the regions of said rods adjacent said cross-members, and a rowof horizontally spaced fingers extending in another direction from theopposite side of said rods and arranged with each finger normallypositioned between and in intimate association with a pair of arms of anadjacent T-shape structure, said associated pairs of arms and fingersdefining supports having substantial surface areas for the articlesstanding'on edges between the rows of rods, thereby to prevent saidarticles contacting portions of the mechanism o'therthan the aforesaidinverted T-shape structures.

4. A conveyor mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein the upstandingrods all incline in a forward direction for effecting the tilting of thearticles at their upper regions to rest against the preceding leadingrow of rods.

5. A conveyor mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein the rods arearranged in oblique inclined planes pointing in a leading direction fortilting the articles to rest against adjacent rows of rods; and the rowsof fingers point in a trailing direction for positioning each finger inthe bifurcation of the adjacent arm of the next succeeding row ofassemblies.

zontal plane in said furnace; blocks secured to said chains and havingseats therein; a plurality of horizontal transversely arranged crossbars fixed transversely in said seats; and a row of inverted generallyT-shape disc supporting and tilting assemblies on each cross bar at thejunctures defined by the stems and lateral members of the Ts, the stemsof each T-shape being defined by an upstanding forwardly inclined armanchored to across bar, and the cross member of each T-shape beingdefined by forwardly and rearwardly extending elements at the lowerregion of the arm, one of said elements being bifurcated to receive theoppositely extending element in a next adjacent row of assemblies; saidT-shape assemblies together defining substantial areas for supportingthe discs on their lower edges, and to effect the tilting of the discsforwardly against the arms of a preceding supporting assembly duringtransit of the conveyor through the furnace chamber.

'7. A mechanism for conveying dished cultivator discs on their edges andtilted in forwardly inclined planes during travel through a furnacechamber, comprising longitudinally extending carrier chains defining anarticulated conveyor movable horizontally through the furnace; seatelements anchored to said chains; a plurality of horizontal cross barsfixed transversely in said seat elements; and a plurality of rows ofinverted generally T-shape disc supporting and tilting assemblies onsaid cross bars, each row of supporting assemblies being comprised ofparallel upstanding arms defining the stems of the T- shape, saidarmsbeing anchored to a cross bar with their upper portions inclined in aleading direction; bifurcated members on said arms adjacent the crossbar of the assembly and projecting at right angles from said arms in adownward oblique plane towards the adjacent leading cross bar; andhorizontal fingers projecting rearwardly of said arms and parallel tothe line of travel of said conveyor, said fingers projecting toward thenext trailing assembly in coactive relation with the bifurcated membersthereof; said fingers and bifurcated members defining the cross membersof the T-shape assemblies for providing substantial areas of supportbetween the rows of arms for the lower edges of the discs, and theupstanding inclined arms being effective to tilt the discs forwardlythereby to position the upper regions of said discs against the nextpreceding inclined arms during transit of the conveyor through thefurnace chamber.

ERNST R. KOPPEL. W. BRUCE CALDWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,330,099 Stoop Feb. 10, 19201,384,193 Hinchman July 12, 1921 1,420,705 Horvath June 27, 19221,784,229 Fox Dec. 9, 1930 2,022,088 Nelson Nov. 26, 1935 2,249,666Rapley et al July 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 476,388Germany May 16, 1929

